Lighting fixture



Dec. 21, 1948. VERSE-N 2,456,903

' LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. KU 7' VERSE/V BY/MM? ATroQA/EY Dec.21,1948. v K, VERSEN 2,456,903

LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed May 18, 19 5 IN V EN TOR.

.K0 7 VERSE ATTORNEY Patented Dec.- 21, 1948 LIGHTING FIXTURE Kurt Versen, Tenafly, N. J. Application May 18, 1946, Serial No. 670,680

Claims.

This invention deals with lighting fixtures and is concerned more particularly with recessed lighting fixtures and the installation thereof. Recessed lighting fixtures, whether for incandescent or fluorescent lighting, are recessed within and behind the overhead ceiling and substantially all parts thereof are hidden from view by concealment thereof behind such ceiling.

The conventional way of providing a recessed fixture, and the installation thereof, involves the utilization of a metal ring and fixture housing, wherein the metal ring is set within the ceiling structure, usually by plasteringand securing the ring to the wire lath or furring strips of the ceiling, and the fixture housing is attached to the metal ring by means of horizontal threaded openings within the metal ring engaging bolts passed through slip holes of the fixture housing. Such conventional method, however, suffers from a number of shortcomings, such, for example, as the clogging or corroding of the threaded openings of the ring during or as the result of the plastering operation.

Manyattempts have, therefore, been made, to improve upon such conventional way and it has been proposed, for instance, to provide special ceiling structures for such recessed lighting fixtures, wherein such specially designed ceiling structures have special supporting means for the recessed fixture housing. The methods of the prior art are not, however, satisfactory in providing a perfect recessed lighting fixture. Thus, for instance, recessed lighting fixtures, as heretofore known, do not easily conform with the configuration, often uneven, of the hung ceiling and are not in perfect alignment therewith to provide a smooth fit of fixture and ceiling surface. Furthermore, recessed lighting fixtures, as heretofore known, are usually not easily accessible either during the installation thereof or for repair work after installation. Other recessed fixtures of the prior art are adapted only for installation prior to the hanging of the ceiling and are thus not available for use with already installed hung ceilings.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a recessed lighting fixture which shall be capable of being installed easily and simply and which shall be-adapted for installation prior to as well as subsequent to the formation of a hung ceiling,

It is another object of the invention to provide a recessed lighting fixture which shall be easily accessible at all times. It is a further object of the invention to provide such recessed fixture which shall be substantially flush with the ceiling surface and which shall conform with and be part of the ceiling surface to provide substantially uninterrupted continuity of the ceiling surface.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the description thereof hereinafter following.

The recessed lighting fixture, according to the invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective elevational view of the recessed lighting fixture structure as installed within the open space behind a hung overhead ceiling, with part of the ceiling broken away and part of the ceiling in section,

Fig. 2 represents a cross sectional elevational view in schematic fashion of an installed recessed lighting fixture in accordance with the invention,

Figs. 3 and 4 represent perspective elevational views of the component parts, in unassembled form, of the structure of the recessed lighting fixture shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 5 represents a perspective elevational view of another embodiment of a recessed lighting fixture according to the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 represent, therefore, an assembly of the separate parts, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to form the unitary recessed lighting fixture as installed in a hung ceiling. Referringmore particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the hung plaster ceiling l is shown as comprising the conventional threefold composition of wire lath 2, intermediate brown plaster 3 and plaster facing 01 finish 4. The recessed lighting fixture shown in elevation in Fig. 1 and in cross section in Fig. 2 comprises a carriage or cage A, shown more particularly in Fig. 3, and a fixture housing 3, more particularly shown in Fig. 4.

The cage A-see Fig. 3-comprises a base 5 supporting a bridge 6. In the case of the circular fixture illustrated in Figs. 1-4 such base 5 will normally consist of an annular ring. The bridge 6 spanning the ring from side to side may be in the form of an inverted square bottomed U, as shown, of light weight and great strength, as, for instance, metal sheet with reentrant reinforcing flanges to form a channel-shaped strip, as shown. The base 5 is provided along its upper periphery with an outwardly projecting flange 1. base and flange forming between them a right angle. The fiange l is advantageously provided with a number of openings or holes 8. Both the base 5 and the flange I are customarily constructed of metal. A junction box 9 with cover plate Ill and socket H may be provided either within or without the "cage structure A, for instance as shown attached to and depending from the overhead part of the bridge or yoke 6. The height of the base or ring 5, below the angular and laterally'projecting flange l, is so designed and dimensioned that it corresponds to, and at least does not exceed, the thickness of the hung ceiling, for instance, in the case of a composition plaster ceiling the thickness of wire lath and the "customary two coats of plaster, so that'the lower edge of theubase will be flush with the ceiling facing and the lateral flange ,1 will overlap and rest on the upper surface of the hung ceiling; After the cage is seated on h flfing ceiling thelateral flange I is advantageously and.

firmly secured to the wire laths or furring strips of the ceiling, for instance by means of wires f2 tied through the o enifigs 8 of the flange 1 to provide a firm interlocking of cage and housing. It should be noted that whether or not a junction box, e. g., junction box 9, is provided within the cage, as illustrated in the drawings of Figs. 1-4,

the housing and cage may be interlocked in any other suitable manner, e. g. directly, so long as thus conforming the fixture flange I 5 and the the wire lath, res ectively furring strips, as illustrated for 'nstance in Fig. 1. If the hung ceiling shonld not be sufficiently. strong to carry the fixture, or a plurality of fixtures, as may be desired, the firm attachment and location of the cage may be supplemented by additional supporting means, e. g., suspension straps anchored to and depending from the main ceiling, which suspension straps may be secured to the overhead part of the bridge or yoke 6 of the cage. The cage or frame A is adapted to be installed either simultaneously with the formation of a hung ceiling or in already existing ceilings. After positioning of the cage in location the ceiling facing is finished, e. g., by plastering and all electrical work, such as installation of current connections and electrical accessories is attended to,

and it. will be noted in this connection that easy access is afforded to attend to such electrical work.

The fixture shell or housing B comprises a sustaining wall l3, a top plate l4 and an outwardly extending bottom flange l5, to assume in the case of the circular fixture illustrated in Figs. 1-4.an inverted-cup shape. The top plate I4 is provided with an aperture I6 to accommodate I the electrical connection for the lamp itself, such aslamp IT, as shown in Fig. 2. Where a junction.box and socket are provided as part of the overhead bridge, as illustrated in Figs. 1-3, such flaperture l6 advantageously engages and encompasses such socket ll.

,After installation of the cage A in the hung ceiling and after the completion of all electrical connections, the-fixture housing or shell B is slipped through the cage A and firmly interlocked therewith to form the recessed fixture of Figs. 1 and 2. In the fixture according to the invention this interlocking and formation of the assembled complete fixture is effected by vertically operative means, i. e., means operative in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the parallelly disposed flange 1 of the base 5 of the cage and the bottom flange I 5 of the fixture housing, whereby the fixture housing may be secured to the overhead part of the bridge or yoke of the cage, either directly or indirectly. In the drawings of Figs. 1 to 4 I have illustrated one particularly advantageous and effective way of accomplishing such vertically directed interlocking, namely, through screws or bolts l8 and I'll depending from the centrally located junction box 9 and adapted to slip through the key slots l9 and I8, respectively, of the fixture housing, the housing being thereupon twisted concentrically to engage the screw heads. Subsequent tighteningof the screws or bolts l8 and 18' will configuration of the ceiling surface without any gaps or cracks which might otherwise show, the lower edgeof, the assembled fixture thus beingflush with the surfaceof the hung ceiling whereby only the ceiling flange f5 of t he fixture housing and thelight-diffuslng glass .orthqlike, if any, of the recessed fixture will be visible.

The recessed lighting fixture of the invention is adapted to be installed in new as well as preexisting ceilings alike. It is characterized by extremely easy accessibility during. installation as well as thereafter, and by a perfect'smooth fit of fixture and ceiling facing, thus avoiding any. undesirable undue contrast betweenthe fixture and the surface of the ceiling and avoiding any interference with accoustical ceilings. The vise-like grip exerted on the hung ceiling by the parallelly arranged laterally extending flanges of the fixture cage and fixture housing and the vertical suspension of the fixture housing from the overhead bridge of the fixture cage make it possible to support the recessed lighting fixture primarily on the ceiling itself and normally without the use of supplemental supporting means. The vertical joinder of the' housing and cage by way of screw threaded means vertically operative also make it. possible to control or adjust the positioning of the lighting source relative to the light diffusing means, such as glass panel, with resultant optical benefits.

In Figs. 1-4 I have illustrated a circular fixture embodying the features of the invention. The drawing of Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in the form of an elongated fixture useful in particular with elongated fluorescent or the like lamps. In this case I provide a'cage comprising a plurality of spaced bridges or yokes 26 supported upon a base 25 which may consist of a ring of rectangular shape with flange 21. The bridges 26 are preferably interconnected for purposes of greater rigidity by brace 30. The fixture housing B is, of course,

of elongated rectangular shape to form an inverted trough-like structure and has an outwardly extending flange 35. The fixture housing B is held within the cage comprising the bridges 26 by means of the bolts 28 and 28', at each bridge 26, passing through the holes 29 and 29' of the housing itself. The ceiling I, which may consist of the customary metal lath 22, brown plaster 23 and finish plaster 24 is then held between the flanges 27 and 35. I

It will be understood that the bridge 6 or 26, respectively of the cage of the invention may have any suitable shape and take any suitable form, having the effect of forming an overhead bridge or yoke between opposite parts of the base 5 or 25, respectively, although I prefer for evident reasons of strength and rigidity the inverted U- shaped described.

In all cases, therefore, the interlocking means are operative in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the flanges of the housing and the cage, with an intervening space between the housing and the cage to allow for compensation of variations in thickness and surface of the mounting surface, such as the ceiling, which is engaged by the flanges in a vise-like grip.

What I claim is:

1. A recessed lighting fixture comprising a fixture housing provided with a bottom flange extending outwardly therefrom, a supporting cage surrounding said housing and comprising a base frame, provided with a top flange extending outwardly therefrom and having secured thereto at least one overhead bridge, and a junction box including lamp socket, said housing and said cage being connected by interlocking means operative in a direction perpendicular to the lanes of said flanges, with an intervening space between said housing and said cage to allow for compensation of variations in thickness and surface of the-mounting surface, said flanges being adapted to engage therebetween the mountingsurface in a vise-like grip.

2. A recessed lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said overhead bridge has the shape of an inverted U.

3. A recessed ceiling lighting fixture comprising a fixture housing with a bottom flange extending outwardly therefrom, a supporting cage surrounding said housing and comprising a base frame provided with a top flange extending outwardly therefrom and having secured thereto at least one overhead bridge, and a junction box afllxed to said bridge, said housing and said cage being connected by interlocking means operative between said housing and said Junction box in a direction perpendicular to the planes of said flanges, with an intervening space between said housing and said junction box to allow for compensation of variations in ceiling thickness and surface, said flanges being adapted to engage therebetween the ceiling in a viselike grip.

4. A recessed ceiling lighting fixture comprising a cylindrical fixture housing with a substantiaily right-angle bottom flange extending out- 6 wardly therefrom, a supporting cage surrounding said housing and comprising an annular base frame provided with a substantially right-angle top flange, extending outwardly therefrom and having secured thereto at least one overhead bridge, and a junction box affixed to said bridge, said housing and said cage being connected by interlocking means operative between said housing and said junction box in a direction perpendicular to the planes of said flanges, with anintervening space between said housing and said junction box to allow for compensation of variations in ceiling thickness and surface, said flanges being adapted to engage therebetween the ceiling in a vise-like grip.

5. A recessed ceiling lighting fixture comprising a fixture housing provided with a substantially right-angle bottom flange extending outwardly therefrom, a supporting cage surrounding said housing comprising a base frame provided with a substantially right-angle top flange extending outwardly therefrom and having secured thereto at least one overhead bridge, and a junction box including lamp socket, said housing and said cage being connected by interlocking means operative in a direction perpendicular to the planes of said flanges, with an intervening space'betwecn said housing and said cage to allow for compensation of variations in ceiling thickness and surface, said flanges being adapted to engage therebetween the ceiling in a vise-dike rip KURT VERSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Naysmith May 22, 1945 

